Emerald’s Terpene Proficiency Test: Confirm What Your Nose Knows

Oct 3rd 2017

While not as well-understood as cannabinoids, terpenes are
almost wholly responsible for the character and one-of-a-kind olfactory
experience of cannabis. In addition imparting that unmistakable smell to
cannabis, terpenes are believed to be partially responsible for the differing
range of physiological effects that can be observed from the use of different
strains of cannabis. Even though cannabis terpene testing is not required in
most states, many producers and consumers wish to know the total terpene
content and overall terpene profile of their cannabis products because a rich
terpene profile can increase the value of the product or may impart desired
effects.

Unfortunately, cannabis terpene testing is not as
straightforward as cannabis potency testing (which isn’t super straightforward
in itself!), and laboratories can struggle to produce quality terpene results.
Proficiency tests can help laboratories improve their methods and are often
used as an internal QC for tests that aren’t state required like terpene
testing. In a nutshell, a proficiency test consists of a sample containing
known concentrations of the analytes in
question. The laboratory then tests the sample and compares their experimental values
against the known values to see how close they got to the true value.
Proficiency tests are invaluable for dialing in methods and are a cornerstone
of many accreditation strategies.

Until now, no applicable terpene proficiency tests were
available to the cannabis industry, mainly because terpene testing is not
required by many states. However, due to high demand, Emerald Scientific has
developed an in-matrix terpene test to help laboratories dial in their terpene
methods and show off their mad quantification skills.

The Terpene Test consists of
a hemp oil sample fortified with ten of the most commonly-analyzed terpenes in
the cannabis industry at concentration ratios representative of cannabis flower
samples.

a-pinene0 : 2000µg/g

b-pinene0 : 2000µg/g

b-myrcene0 : 2000µg/g

3-carene0 : 2000µg/g

a-terpinene0 : 2000µg/g

d-limonene0 : 2000µg/g

linalool0 : 2000µg/g

beta caryophyllene0 : 2000µg/g

humulene0 : 2000µg/g

a-bisabolol0 : 2000µg/g

For more information about
Emerald Scientific’s suite of proficiency testing products visit theemeraldtest.com.